The founding father and President of the Alagumgube Association worldwide and in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Mr.Gabriel Agambila, has criticized Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region over what he describes as disunity that is weakening efforts to secure development for Upper East Region.
Mr. Agambila’s remarks follow the Government of Ghana’s securing of a $500 million World Bank loan for the Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP)a five-year (2026–2031) initiative.
The project is intended to rehabilitate over 1,000 km of rural farm-to-market feeder roads, to reduce transport costs, lower post-harvest losses, and improve agricultural value chains. It is also expected to enhance all-season access, rehabilitate rural roads, and establish a long-term maintenance fund to benefit over 550,000 people.
However, he noted that the initial phase of the feeder road project has excluded the Upper East Region, while including other regions such as Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western,nine regions across four geographic clusters that the project says host the country’s most important food crops.
Speaking on ,Word News during thGurune News Hour segment, “Bunkeka Yire Tuulum Yela”, Mr. Agambila said it is very difficult to get up to eight MPs from the region to sit together and discuss Upper East development issues collectively.
He said power struggles and disagreements among MPs arising from ego and the desire to prove superiority have blocked their collective efforts to lobby for projects, thereby derailing development in the region.
Mr. Agambila cited the deplorable state of feeder roads across districts in Upper East, arguing that it is unacceptable for the region to be left out. He also referenced the poor road passing through the front gate area of Attorney General Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine’s residence as an example to emphasize the seriousness of road neglect.
He further expressed surprise that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which he said gained significant support in the 2024 elections would “think even twice” about the region’s inclusion in the project.He argued that Upper East has 15 parliamentary seats, all held by the NDC.
He also claimed that, when extending to all parliamentarians from the region, the group totals sixteen and a half (including the support/position, In his view, this should have made it possible for them to work together to lobby for the region’s interests.
Mr. Agambila said although chiefs are not supposed to engage in party politics under Ghana’s Constitution, they are not barred from seeking developmental support from political authorities and government institutions.
He therefore appealed to the Upper East Traditional Council to invite or visit the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance to discuss the inclusion of Upper East in the $500 million feeder roads project.
He also called on:Finance Minister Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson,Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament, Hon. Isaac AdongoRoads and Transport Minister Hon. Kwame Governs AgbodzaMr. Prosper Ayinbila, described as a potential aspirant for the Bolgatanga Central seat and someone who works with the finance department of Ghana
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Akoose Atubila Daniel.